Quiz 2: Clinical assessment of the breast

Please choose the one, most correct answer to each question or statement.

1. Clinical assessment of a woman’s breasts consists of:
   • Taking a good history only
   • Taking a history and asking important questions
   • Taking a history, asking important questions and performing a clinical examination
   • Taking a history, asking important questions, performing a clinical examination and requesting special investigations
2. When taking a history from a woman with a breast complaint:
   • A present history of main complaints will be adequate
   • A past, present and family history is needed
   • A past history is not needed in a young woman
   • The family history is only important if the woman has a past history of cancer
3. The risk of breast cancer:
   • Increases with age
   • Decreases with age
   • Is more common in both younger and older women
   • Is not related to age
4. The lifetime risk of breast cancer is approximately:
   • 1 in 10
   • 1 in 20
   • 1 in 50
   • 1 in 100
5. What is the most important factor if there is a family history of breast cancer?
   • Whether the relative died of breast cancer
   • The age of death from breast cancer
   • The age of presentation of breast cancer
   • The type of treatment given for breast cancer
6. The family history of breast cancer is important:
   • Only if it affects the woman’s mother or her family
   • Only if it affects the woman’s sisters or female cousins
   • Only if 2 or more family members had breast cancer
   • Any family history of breast cancer is important
7. The risk of developing breast cancer:
   • Is increased if there is a family history of lung cancer
   • Is increased if there is a family history of ovarian cancer
   • Is decreased if there is a family history of prostate cancer
   • Is not influenced by the family history of cancers other than breast cancer
8. What important questions should be asked regarding the past history?
   • At what age did her periods start
   • Has she had breast cancer before
   • Was she breastfed as an infant
   • Has she taken oral contraceptives in the past
9. What is a common breast complaint?
   • Rashes especially pimples
   • Bruising
   • Itching
   • Pain
10. What important question should be asked about a breast lump?
    • When was it first noticed
    • Did it become painful only after it was discovered
    • Was it found by the woman or her husband
    • Does the lump feel hard or soft
11. How should you prepare a woman for a breast examination?
    • She should get completely undressed
    • She should get undressed to her waist
    • If she is embarrassed she can be examined through a vest or T-shirt
    • An adequate examination can be done without her undressing
12. Breasts should always be examined with the woman:
    • Standing up with her arms extended in front of her
    • Sitting with her arms held out to the side then above her head
    • Sitting with her arms relaxed at her sides and then raised above her head
    • Lying down with her arms across her abdomen
13. When palpating a woman’s breasts:
    • It is easier to examine the breasts with the woman lying flat on her back as this will flatten the breasts
    • Lying down makes the examination more difficult as the muscles tend to tense up
    • It is best to examine a breast with the woman lying on her side
    • There is no need to ask the woman to lie down as breasts need only be examined in the sitting position
14. Examination of the armpits:
    • Is an essential part of all breast examinations
    • Is only needed if a breast lump is found
    • Is only needed if an infection of the breast is present
    • Is not part of a routine breast examination
15. The armpits should be examined:
    • With the woman lying down
    • With the woman pressing her hands against her hips
    • With the woman sitting up with her arms resting on the examiner’s shoulders
    • With the woman standing with her arms held above her head
16. The term peau d’orange means:
    • The woman’s breasts are the size of an orange
    • The breasts are jaundiced
    • The woman has a yellow discharge from a nipple
    • The breast has skin changes that suggests an underlying cancer
17. What is important to look for when examining a woman’s nipples?
    • Whether they are large or small
    • Whether they are pigmented or not
    • Whether there are changes to the skin over the nipples
    • Whether they are the same size
18. Thickening of a breast:
    • Is not important because it is very common
    • Is best described as a hard lump with easily felt margins
    • Is an area where the breast feels firmer
    • Is easy to find as it is always tender
19. It is best to examine a woman’s breasts:
    • During her period
    • Immediately after her period
    • Just before her period
    • Between days 6 and 14 of her menstrual cycle
20. How should a man’s breasts be examined?
    • The same way as a woman’s breasts
    • It is only important to feel for lumps
    • It is only important to inspect the breasts for any changes
    • There is no need to examine a man’s breasts as men do not get breast cancer